Remembering the Vietnam War's 'Lost 74'

Pete "Roy" Peters will never forget one specific morning back in June 1969.

He was 22-years-old, serving on a Navy vessel during the Vietnam War, when an Australian aircraft carrier collided with the ship in the South China Sea. There were 200 lost that day, including 74 sailors.

But because the accident did not occur in a combat zone, these 74 names have not been included on the Vietnam Memorial. But California Congressman Adam Schiff believes the U.S. has a chance to settle this human debt by adding these names to the Vietnam Memorial.

Rep. Schiff's new House-approved defense bill could give men like Peters the opportunity to see the United States honor the friends he lost more than four decades ago.

Pete "Roy" Peters joins The Takeaway to remember that day back in June 1969, and discuss why these "lost 74" deserve reverence and recognition.

Produced by:

Editors:

Contributors:

Tags:

Comments [3]

Jeff Allen
from St, Louis, MO

Thanks for this story. When I was in Naval Officer Candidate School in the mid-1970's, we were shown a movie about the Melborne/Evans incident. It was a training film for future deck watch officers. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=880E5C80C0115D48

In short, the Navy took the opportunity to use the tragedy as a learning experience for future watch officers. I stood many deck watches at sea and, believe me, this training film was on my mind when I was up there.

unfortunately the show's guest couldn't resist taking a shot at people who chose to refuse to fight in an illegal war. he also said that those who saw the war know how wrong it was. well, his need to condemn those who chose not to contribute to murdering millions of vietnemese as well as tens of thousands of american military people while he hides behind a false badge of being in the navy requires this response:

1. your criticism of people who refused to murder vietnamese while you seem to acknowledge how wrong that war was. those people chose to risk the wrath of the US government rather than take part in an illegal war.

2. it is espically repulsive for you to comdemn those who chose not to kill vietnamese which was well known as a hiding place for those who wanted to avoid combat but did not have the moral courage to stand up and say that they refused to go into the military. there were virtually no combat casualties.

it was also nausuating to hear the announcer fawn over this guy and act as if he was a hero for being in the navy as he condemned those who chose not to muder vietnamese.

while I dislike having to be so direct about this guy, his comments and the announcer's comments demand it.